Councillor expresses disappointment over ‘missed opportunity’ in Halappanavar inquiry

The failure of the HSE Forum West members to support calls for a public inquiry into the death of a 31-year-old Indian woman in University College Hospital, Galway, recently has been described as a “missed opportunity” by a Clare councillor.

 

Councillor Brian Meaney expressed his disappointment with a majority decision taken at a meeting on Tuesday not to initiate a public inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Savita Halappanavar.
The Green Party Councillor had proposed the forum should support the calls from the Ms Halappanavar’s husband, Praveen Halappanavar for a public inquiry into his wife’s death. However, his proposal, which was seconded by Sligo Councillor Sean McManus, was defeated decisively.

Councillor Meaney stressed that Mr Halappanavar was best placed to know what had happened and what was needed as he sat beside his wife before she died.

Having been involved in a number of cases concerning the deaths of patients in acute hospitals, Councillor Meaney expressed scepticism the HSE would publish the contents of its internal inquiry into Ms Halappanavar’s death.

A few months ago, the HSE refused the councillor’s request to publish a redacted version of the internal report into the death of a Shannon psychiatric patient, Kevin Manifold in the Acute Unit of Ennis Hospital on February 27, 2011.

He also questioned the validity of the amendment, which was tabled as he felt that it didn’t comply with standing orders considering it was a direct contradiction of his proposal.

Clare councillors Tom McNamara and Tony Mulqueen supported an amendment calling on the forum to wait until the HIQA and the HSE’s internal investigation was completed before they would consider instituting a public inquiry, while Councillor Pat Burke abstained.

An international storm has surrounding the death of Savita Halappanavar from septicaemia after suffering a miscarriage on October 28.

Mr Halappanavar has threatened to forge ahead with a case in the European courts if the Government does not agree to a public inquiry by the end of the week.

Mrs Halappanavar’s parents have also demanded that the Government hold a public inquiry, saying that they do not understand or trust the HSE probe.

Councillor McManus claimed that the HSE had handled the issues surrounding the investigation into Ms Halappanavar very poorly and had in the process caused significant damage to Ireland’s medical reputation.

In view of the damage caused to Ireland’s reputation, he believed there should be some form of public inquiry as proposed by Councillor Meaney.

However, a number of councillors successfully argued the HSE Forum should not make a decision on calling for a public inquiry until the two investigations were completed.

Limerick Councillor Richard Butler, who tabled the amendment, urged members to “hold their counsel” and not to rush to judgement on either party until these reports were completed.

Councillor Kevin Sheehan admitted he had “bitten his tongue” after hearing comments made outside the country, which he described as unhelpful.

“We should wait for the outcome of these reports if we are seen to deliver justice on this sad issue. Some people seem to think that only women can discuss and debate this issue. My mother is a woman and my wife is a woman. I have every right to comment on this issue.

“Every week women are raped and murdered in this country and we don’t even know who murdered them. I don’t hear the same outcry in terms of the abuse of these women,” he said.